The Feasibility of Winter Wheat Following Soybean in Northern Minnesota

Abstract

Lack of a suitable previous crop and the risk of winter-kill are two main reasons why winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a minor crop in Minnesota. Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an excellent previous crop to hard red spring wheat in the Northern Great Plains. The objectives of this research were to determine whether (i) seeding winter wheat immediately following soybean harvest allowed for the winter wheat to get established and (ii) no-till seeding into standing soybean stubble reduced the amount of winter-kill. Winter wheat was successfully established and grown following soybean when more winter-hardy varieties were selected. No-till seeding tended to reduce winter-kill and improved spring vigor for more winter-hardy varieties, and no-till seeding improved grain yield and reduced grain protein content compared to conventional seeding.